Dispenser circulatory device



2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. l5 1951 TEL/q l W49, 4' iV/@A HHS Sept. 29,1953 c. c. BAUERLEIN 2,553,302'

DISPENSER CIRCULATORY DEVICE Filed Sept. l5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @adCY. czz/er/a'zz Patented Sept. 29, 1953 DISPENSER CIRCULATORY DEVICECarl C. Bauerlein, Mukwonago, Wis., assigner to The Dole Valve Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 15, 1951,Serial No. 246,844

1 This invention relates to dispensers for diluting or carbonating anddispensingr iiuids or concentrates, such as concentrated juices, malts,

liquors, colas, fiavcrs and the like.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved formof dispenser operable to maintain the consistency of the iiuid to bedispensed of a uniform consistency throughout the tank.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved formof dispenser for refrigerated concentrates and the like havingcirculatory means for maintaining the temperature of the iiuid withinthe tank uniform throughout the tank.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofdispenser wherein the consistency of the fluid to be dispensed ismaintained uniform throughout the tank by creating a circulation of theuid by an agitating vibrator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved formof agitator for circulating the contents of a dispensingr tank in- 10Claims. (Cl. 259-39) cluding a vibrating blade in the form of a ilatarmature extending along a Wall of the tank in parallel spaced relationwith respect thereto and an oscillating iield on the outside of the tankin alignment with said armature. f

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improvedform of dispenser for concentrates and the like including a dispensingvalve recessed in the bottom of a concentrate tank and a vibratingcirculating mem-ber secured thereto and movable with respect to the wallof the tank, for creating a circulation of liquid therein.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simple form ofcirculating means for concentrate dispensers including a diluting anddispensing valve detachably mounted in tbe bottom of a tank and recessedtherein, a vibrator in the form of a flat armature secured to said valveand extending in parallel relation with respect to the bottom of saidtank, and an oscillating field beneath the bottom of said tank, forsetting said armature into vibratory motion.

A further and more detailed object of my invention is to provide a noveland improved form v of dispenser comprising a tank constructed from anon-magnetic material and having a dispensing and mixing valve recessedin the bottom thereof, and forming a detachable mounting for a vibratoryarmature in the bottom of said tank and also including an oscillatingeld on the outside of said tank setting said armature into vibratorymotion and creating a circulatory movement of the uid in said tank.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to Vtimeas the following specication proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a dispenser constructed in accordancewith my invention with the top cover removed and certain parts thereofbroken away in order to show the oscillating field for setting thearmature into vibratory motion;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line '1I-1I ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line III-III ofFigure l; and

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the vibrating circulatory armature of myinvention.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, I have shown a part of a dispenserfor diluting or carbonating and dispensing various types of fluids orconcentrates, such as concentrated fruit and vegetable juices, malts,liquors, colas, iiavors and the like, and particularly adapted to dilutefruit or vegetable concentrates to the normal consstency of the juice ofthe fresh natural fruits or vegetables and to deliver a cool uniformlymixed juice for drinking purposes. The dispenser may include a casing IBhaving a container or tank II therein, and spaced from and insulatedfrom the wall thereof. The tank II may be of a generally cylindricalform and may be secured at its upper end to the top of the container I0,as by a iiange I2 herein shown as being formed integrally with said tankand extending outwardly therefrom. Said tank may be closed by a cover I3and may have a bottom Iii leading to an opening I5 therein and forming areceptacle for recessing a diluting and mixing valve I6 within thebottom of said tank with its top substantially flush, or a slightdistance beneath the bottom thereof.

As herein shown, the receptacle I5 has an enlarged diameter cylindricalwall I'I terminating into an inverted frustoconical wall I8 forming aseat for the valve I6, The Wall I8 terminates at its end of reduceddiameter into a depending cylindrical wall I9 encircling the lower endportion and spout of the valve I5.

The supply pipe for diluting water may enter the casing Iii through awall thereof and may be coiled around the outside of the wall of thetank i E in radially spaced relation with respect thereto as indicatedby reference character Said supply pipe may be connected at its deliveryend with a constant Volume solenoid operated delivery valve (not shown)like the valve Shown and described in my application Serial No. 229,121,died May 31, 1951, and no part ci my present invention so not hereinshown or described. The delivery valve (not shown) may be connectedwithl a fitting 23` (Figure. 3.) con-` nected with a conduit' 2textending outwardly from the enlarged diameter wall portion l1 of thereceptacle for the valve l5, and communicating with the inside of saidreceptacle, for supplying a constant volume oi diluting fluid theretoand' to the dispensing valve i5, as my prior ap piication Serial No.229,121. Where,- the cencen trate or uid to be dispensed must bemaintained cool to prevent the breeding oi bacteria, the tank ii may becooled by a refrigerating coil 25 encircling the outer periphery thereofmay be connected with a compressor, motor and condenser ci arefrigeratingl unit tnot. shownl, to.- maintain the concentrate at. theproper temperature,A a desirable. temperature' for juice, concentratesbeing in the neighborhood. of 22 E., a1- thcugh the. concentrate may bemaintained. at higher or lower temperatures. as long as; it. will flowrelatively freely and is. sui'hciently cold to: prevent the breeding ofbacteria.. itis, of. course, obviousthat where the. fluid in the tan-kll is to be heated.` that a, heating coil may beA suhstitutedfor the.refrigerating coil.

yllfie. tank Il is. shown as being formed soy as to be. free from. all.shoulders or recesses wherel bacteria. may breed and may be made from acorrosion-resistant materia1,. such. as a non-magnetic stainless steel,which besides resisting corrosion of highly acid fruit juices, also actsas a conductor of cold, to aid` in. maintaining the juice cool, whenthe, refrigerating unit. may be, shutl orf. WhereI hotl beverages. maybe dispensed, said tank may also. act as a conductor of heat. toI retainthe, heat in the. concentrate.,

The dispensing valve l is herein shown as comprising a valve body 2l. oia generally cylindrical form fLtti-ng Within the wall i1. of the. re.-ceptacle. i5, for said valve and having a rusto.- conicalv bottom wall2.8 seated on the. wall i3. of. the. receptacle.Y Av conduit 2254 leadsfrom the. bottom of the frusto-conical wall. 2.8. and is. herein shownas being formed integrally therewith. and. spaced inwardly from, the.inner periphery o thev wall H3. The. conduit. Z5 is. seated onanozzle.or spout te mounted'. in the. bottom oi the. reduced diametercylindrical wall [Si of the. valve receptacle,y and suitably sealed withrespect theretd. The valve body 2l is preferably transparent, and maybeV molded or formed trom. one. ofv the. Well known thermoplastic,materialsr or from glass.. One such thermoplastic, material4 may be,Lui-- cite, which not only exposes the. passageways in the valve toview, but. also acts as an insulator and inhibits freezing, of thediluting water passing into and through the valve. It is. ob.- vious,however,` that the valve body need not. be transparent. and'y may bemade from. metal. it de.- sired'.

The valve body 21' isv shown as. having an. annular passageway 3|extending therearound. and. opening to the periphery thereof and to thein.- side of the wall I1 and communicating with. the. conduit 2d, forconducting water or any other diluting or carbonating fluid underpressure. into and through the valve body. Sealing. rings 32, 32 may beprovided on opposite sides of the annular passageway 3L. to. retainwater in said passageway and prevent leakage of Water along the sidewall of the valve body 21 and also to prevent the leakage of concentratefrom the tank into said annular passageway. Said sealing rings may be ofany well known form of flexible sealing ring, such as an 0 ring, madefrom rubber or an elastomer. The rings and recesses in the wall ot thevalve bod-yr for said ring howener, should be so constructed that theymay readily be cleaned and will not harbor the breeding of bacteria.

The valve body 2 is shown as having a top face 53', herein shown asbeing iiush with the bottom; teA ci the tank Il and as having aconcentrate; chamber 35" recessed therein and opening ta the. top:thereof. The concentrate chamber 35 is shown as communicating with agenerally cylindrical outlet 56, at the bottom thereot having agenerally frusto-conical bottom terminating in a knife edge orifice 5l,communicating with a vacuum chamber 3d on. the downstream. side of a.throat @e oi a4 venturi al.

A passageway dit having an inverted truncatedv core-like inner endcommunicating with. thev throat feti at its. reduced. diameter end,leads from the annular passageway 5i. An inverted truncated cone-likepassageway i5 is: shown as. leading, from the vacuumv chamber 5S and as.communicating with a downwardly extending inclined passageway LiLopening to a vertically extending passageway i9 extending downwardlyalong the conduit 2.9 into communication with the spout 3E.

The conduit Z 'ts. within and may be sli'dably removed from an upperannular recessed portion 50 of the nozzle Bil. Said conduitl has aplurality or" vertically extending notches. or grooves 5I',A 5l formedvtherein and opening. to the bottom thereof. The grooves 5 t, 5,( arenormally closed by engagement with the annular recessed portion 5f! of'the nozzle 3% but open to afford a passageway through the nozzlev whenthe valve IS' is mnved upwardly to disengage the bottom surface of theconduit 2S from the annular portion 50.. When itis desired t0 dumpconcentrate from the tank Z9, the valve is moved upwardly until thelower sealing ring, t2 is. raised above the top ofthe Valve receptaclei5.

The vacuum chamber 39 on. the. downstream side of the throat t0 ofventuri I is of a larger diameter than the throat of theventuri and isso proportioned that' a vacuum will be built up in said chamber by' the.increased velocity of the Water flowing therethrough as it leaves thethroat. of the venturi. When the tank Il has concentrate therein, andwater enters the valve body 21 through the annular passageway' 3l, at a.pre'- determined generally constant pressure governed by the waterdelivery valve (not shown), the velocity' of the water flowing throughthe throatI 40 of the venturi 4I will increase, with a resultant drop inpressure at the downstream side of' said throat. This will create avacuum in the vacuum chamber 3.91. This vacuum will thus aspi'ratev theconcentrate from the tank' H', mixing` it with thevvaterand. dischargingit through the spout 3U, diluted to the. desired consistency.. Theproportioning of the water and concentrate is thus governed by thevacuum in the vacuum chamber 39 as in my application Serial No. 229,121and. the. opening intosaid vacuumchamber maybe varied without affectingthe proportions..

The. concentratey chamber 35 is herein shown as. having a cage- 54- of.a check valve 55 recessed` therein. The. check valvev 55 is hereinshown. as

being of the flexible wafer type, like that shown and described in myaforementioned application Serial No. 229,121 so not herein shown ordescribed further. The purpose of said check valve is to prevent theleakage of concentrate into the vacuum chamber 39 when the aspiratingliquid, such as water, is shut oil, but to allow the passage ofconcentrate into said vacuum chamber upon the reduction in pressuretherein by the passage of Water through the reduced throat of theventuri 3 It should here be understood that while I herein refer towater as the diluting liquid, that any other diluting liquid may be usedin place of water and that where it may be desired to carbonate theiiuid in the tank II that carbonated Water or a carbonating gas may beused to aspirate the fluid or liquid from said tank in place of waterunder pressure.

Referring now in particular to the means for creating a circulation ofthe concentrate or other fluid within the tank I I and attaining auniformly mixed fluid or concentrate and also maintaining thetemperature thereof uniform throughout said tank, a circulator in theform of a flat vibratory armature 51 is herein shown as being secured tothe top face 33 of the valve body 21 of the mixing and dispensing valveIB as by machine screws 58, 58. The armature 51 is shown as having aflat blade 59 extending in parallel relation with respect to the bottomId of the tank I l and spaced thereabove. A field or electromagnet 60beneath the bottom of the tank I2 and energized with a pulsating currentis shown as being provided to set said armature into vibration.

The field 60 is herein shown as comprising a laminated core 6I securedto the inside of the bottom plate of the casing Il). Said core may be ofa well known form and is shown as being in the form of a three tinedfork having three upwardly extending poles 63, 63. Said core may besecured to the bottom plate of the casing I0 by clips 64, 64 engagingthe outer edges of the outer pole pieces 63 and by bolts 55 securedthereto. The bolts 65 may pass through insulating sleeves 66, 66 and mayalso form the terminals for the conductors for coils 61 and 68 of themagnet. Said coils are shown as being wound about the central pole piece63 inside of the outer pole pieces.

As herein shown the coils 91 and 68 with the core 6I form a two stageelectromagnet for setting the blade 59 into vibration with varyingintensity. The purpose is that when the concentrate is warm, less poweris required to thoroughly circulate the concentrate, but as saidconcentrate is refrigerated, the power required to circulate theconcentrate, which may be viscous, increases and it is desirable toincrease the intensity of vibration of the armature 51 in order tomaintain the required circulation of the concentrate.

Thus, during operation of the dispenser, when dispensing a warm or hotliquid or concentrate, or when dispensing a concentrate when therefrigerating unit is not in operation, the coil 61 only will beenergized. As, however, the temperature of the concentrate is reduced,as Where the refrigerating unit comes into operation, the coil 68 is cutinto the circuit and both coils 61 and 68 will be effective to vibratethe armature 51 and thus increase the intensity of vibration of saidarmature and maintain the same relative circulation as when theconcentrate is warm.

A separate thermostat (not shown) or the thermostat controllingoperation of the refriger- CTI ating element and connected in thecircuit to the coils 61 and B8, may be used to cut the coil 68 into thecircuit when the refrigerating unit comes into operation, and to cut outsaid coil when the refrigerating unit is not in operation, in a mannerwell known to those skilled in the art so not herein shown or described.A rectifier 1B, which may be a half wave selenium rectifier is shown asbeing mounted on the bottom of the casing IU. Said rectifier' isconnected to the coils 61 and 68 to energize said coils with a pulsatingcurrent and reduce the number of pulsations.

The armature 51 may be of a magnetic stainless steel, which will resistthe corrosive action of the juices, one form of which steel foundsatisfactory is a Number 430 magnetic type of stainless steel. Thearmature ''i is shown as having an intermediate portion abutting the topof the valve body 21 and secured to the cage 54, and also secured to thetop of said valve body. While said armature is shown as being secured tosaid valve body by the machine screws 53, it need not be so secured andmay be molded to said valve body if desired. l vo oppositely extendingwings i3, 'i3 extend upwardly from said intermediate portion and afforda means for lifting the valve IS from its receptacle. The armature 51also has an upwardly inclined rear end portion 14, the outer margin ofwhich conforms generally to the cylindrical wall of the tank I i, andaffords a means for aligning the projecting blade 59 of said armaturewith the electrcinagnet d0 and making it impossible to insert the valvewithin its receptaole with the blade 5S out of alignment with thepulsating eld of said electromagnet. The blade is herein shown asextending outwardly from the valve body 21 in an upwardly inclineddirection then extending in parallel relation with respect to the bottomI3 of the tank Ii. Said iade shown as terminating in a transverselyextendinST circulating forward end portion 80, extending across saidblade and beyond opposite sides thereof. The blade 59 is likewise shownas being open for a portion of the length thereof to afford a means forincreasing the flexibility of said armature.

The circulation of iiuid within the tank I I upon vibration of thearmature 51 is created by vibration of the circulatory portion Seforcing the concentrate through a plurality of apertures 83, B3extending therethrough, with a pumping action. As herein shown, theapertures S3, 83 extend through collars 39., extending upwardly from thetop of the transverse end portion 89 of the blade te. The apertures 83,lB3 may be of a generally frueto-conical form, with the reduced diameterportion thereof opening to the tops of said collars. While separatecollars may be secured to the top of the transverse portion 3G of theblade 59, I have herein shown said collars as being extruded from saidblade, to provide the frusto-conical apertures therein, the increaseddiameter' portions beimr at the bottom of blade and the reduced diameterportions being at the top thereof. This reduction in diameter of theapertures 83, es in the direction of pumping movement of the blade 5t,restricts the passage of fluid through said apertures with a resultantincrease in velocity of iiuid passing therethrough and an increasedcirculating eiect of said blade.

it should here be noted that the electromagnet Sii is connected in thecircuit to continuously vibrate the armature 51, as long as thedispenser is c-onnected in the electric circuit. This creates acontinuous circulation of iiuid therein and as- I sures .a uniformVconsistency of uid throughout the tank i l, and also assures a uniformtemperature thereof.

it will be understood that modifications and .'ariations .may be eiectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of thepresent invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a dispenser, a tank, a dispensing and mixing valve leading fromthe bottom of said tank, and means circulating the fluid within saidtank comprising a vibrating blade extending along a wall of said tankand spaced closely adjacent to said wall and extending in parallelrelation with respect thereto and having a laterally extending agitatingfree end portion, an electromagnet on the outside of the wall of saidtank in alignment with the agitating free end portion of said blade, andmeans energizing said electromagnet with a pulsating current.

2. In a dispenser, a tank of non-magnetic material, a dispensing andmixing valve leading from the bottom of said tank, and means circulatingfluid in said tank and maintaining a uniform consistency thereofcomprising an electromagnet on the outside of a wall of said tank, meansenergizing said electromagnet with a pulsating current, and a blade ofmagnetic material extending along said wall in parallel spaced relationwith respect thereto and secured thereto adjacent one of its ends havinga widened agitating free end portion in direct alignment with saidelectromagnet and set into vibration upon energization of saidelectromagnet.

3. A dispenser comprising a tank, a dispensing and mixing valve leadingfrom the bottom of said tank, and means circulating the fluid in saidtank and maintaining the consistency thereof uniform, comprising anarmature within said tank and secured to the bottom thereof adjacent oneoi its ends and having an impelling end portion extending along saidbottom in generally parallel spaced relation with respect thereto, anelectromagnet beneath said bottom in alignment with the impelling endportion of said armature, and means energizing said electromagnet with apulsating current to efect vibratory movement of said armature.

A dispenser comprising a tank constructed of non-magnetic material, adispensing and mixing valve recessed in the bottom of said tank andremovably mounted therein and having a iiuid passage therethrough, andmeans circulating nuid in said tank and maintaining the fluid therein cia uniform consistency comprising an electromagnet beneath the bottomthereof, means energizing said electromagnet with a pulsating current,and an agitating blade secured to said valve and having a hat projectingportion extending therefrom in generally parallel relation with respectto the bottom of said tank and having a circulating end portion indirect alignment with said electromagnet.

5. A dispenser comprising a tank constructed of a non-magnetic material,and means circulating the fluid within said tank comprising anelectromagnet on the outside of said tank adjacent the bottom thereof,an armature on the inside of said tank in the form of a relatively wideblade and secured to the bottom of said tank adjacent one of its endsand having a projecting blade extending along said tank in parallelspaced relation with respect thereto, and having a widened circulatingfree end portion in alignment with said electromagnet and having aplurality of pumping apertures Vextendingvertically therethrough.

6. A dispenser comprising a tank, means establishing a circulation ofiluid within said tank comprising an electromagnet on the outside ofsaid tank beneath the bottom thereof, a blade within said tank andsecured to the bottom thereof adjacent one of its ends and having aprojecting portion extending along the bottom of said tank in generallyparallel spaced relation with respect thereto, said blade having anapertured circulating free end portion disposed over and in alignmentwith said electromagnet, the portions of said blade forming theapertures in said free end portion extending above the top surface ofsaid blade and having inner walls of a frusto-conical form, with theportions of larger diameter opening toward the bottom of said tank andthe portions of reduced diameter opening toward the top of said tank.

7. n a dispenser, a dispensing and mixing valve recessed in the bottomof said tank and removably mounted therein, and means circulating nuidin said tank upwardly along the center thereof and down the sidesthereoic and maintaining the circulation of .fluid therein comprising anelectromagnet beneath the bottom of said tank, means energizing saidelectrcmagnet with a pulsating current, an agitating blade secured tothe top of said valve and having a projecting portion extendingtherefrom in vertically spaced parallel relation with respect to thebottom or said tank into alignment with said electromagnet, said bladehaving an apertured circulating portion adjacent the end thereof, theportions forming the apertures of which extend vertically above the topof said blade and form elongated passageways and impart a pumping actionto the fluid and are of a reducing diameter from the bottom to the topthereof, to increase the velocity of the uid passing therethrough andthe circulation of the duid within said tank.

8. In a dispenser, a tank having a receptacle in the bottom thereof, adispensing mixing valve removably mounted in said receptacle and havinga fluid passage therethrough, and means circulating fluid upwardly alongthe center o' said tank and downwardly along the sides thereof andmaintaining the fluid therein or" a uniform consistency comprising anelectromagnet disposed beneath the bottom of said tank, means energizingsaid electromagnet with a pulsating current, an agitating blade securedto said valve and having a fiat projecting portion extending therefromin parallel spaced relation with respect to the bottom of said tank witha circulating end portion in alignment with said electromagnet, and alsohaving a tail conforming generally to the form of the wall of said tankand locating said blade in aligned relation with respect to saidelectromagnet upon the insertion of said valve within said receptacle.

9. A dispenser particularly adapted to mix and dispense concentratescomprising a tank, mixing and dispensing valve in the bottom of saidtank, a flat armature carried by said valve and extending along thebottom of said tank and spaced therefrom, and an electrcmagnet disposedbeneath the bottom of said tank and energized with a pulsating currentto set said armature into vibration.

1G. A dispenser comprising a tank, and means creating a circulation offluid within said tank comprising a blade of magnetic material securedto the bottom of said tank and extending there- References Cited in thele or" this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number blade to extend abovethe top thereof and of a 19 2505423 uniformly decreasing diameter fromthe bottom to the top thereof.

CARL C. BAUERLEIN.

Name Date Tygard Apr. 6, 1907 Midorkawa Feb. 13, 1923 Wahl Mar. 12, 1929Boldman Jan. 21, 1941 Morgan Apr. 25, 1950 Snrernulli Oct. 21. 1951

